Counterbalancing device



vMay 14, 1935. R. R. BLOss Er AL y 2,001,662

COUNTERBALANCING DEVICE Filed April 6, 1928 ATTORNEY arm to synchronize Patented May 14, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE y Ohio, assignors, by l International-Stacey mesne assignments, to Corporation, Franklin,

Ohio, a corporation of Ohio l Application April 6, `1928, Serial No. 268,028

10 Claims.l

Our invention relates to a counterbalancing device and, more particularly, to a counterbalancing device that is attached to and operates in conjunction with the crank of an oil well drilling and pumping mechanism.

This application is a continuation in part of our application, Serial Number 228,963, `filed October 26, 1927.

Certain features of adjustability have been provided in order to meet the rnormal variations in the weight of the suspended drilling and pumping mechanism and the oil or'other fluid above the plunger. Also, features of adjustability have been provided whereby the counterbalanoe effect may be synchronized with the reaction in the pitman that result from the sucker rod pull. These features -of adjustability are calculated to make it possible to eliminate the jerky movements of the various parts of the drilling and pumping mechanism-and thereby provide a smooth and uniform operation throughout all cycles of such drilling and pumping. y

The fact that our counterbalance is so designed as to be attached to and operate with the crank has decided advantages over a band Wheel or walking beam counterbalance. lSome of these advantages reside in the'fact that the wear and tear on the band Wheel and Walking beam and the torsional stress on the crankv shaft, as produced by ordinary types of band wheel or Walking beam counterbalances, are eliminated. With our ,design and construction, We avoid unusual stress Ion any part of the drilling and pumping mechanism, with the exception of the crank arm itself. v v f Other advantages of our device reside in the fact that our counterbalance, being so designed as to be attached to and operate with the crank, is located outside of the rig house whereby it may be readily adjusted and operated. It is so constructed that it may be quickly and easily shifted in an arcuate path with relation to the crank the counterbalance effect with the load.

In our invention, we have provided a plurality of Weightmembers that may be attached to or detached from the counterbalance. Such weights are provided so as to obtain a greater or lesser counterbalancing effect since, by varying the number of weight members and thereby varying the mass of weight of the counterbalance, any desired counterbalancing effect may be obtained. Also, we have provided means whereby the counterbalance may be detached from the crank shaft on which it is mounted and such crank shaft (CINE-591) thereby relieved of the weight thereof. Further, We have provided a means for maintaining the` counterbalance in such position with relation to the crank and crank shaft that it may be quickly and easily remounted on the crank shaft after it has been detached therefrom.

Various other advantageous features lwill appear from the following detailed description and the preferred embodiment of our invention may be seenin the accompanying drawing wherein similar Vcharacters of reference designate corresponding parts and wherein; t

, 'Figure 1 is a side `vievvfshowing the applica-l tion of our invention to an ordinary pumping and drilling rig structure. f

Figure 2 is a side elevation `of our counterbalancing device shown appliedto the crank of an ordinary drilling and pumping mechanism, The-counterbalancing device is shown in inoper-` ative positionby the-dotted line.

Figure 3 is an end elevation of a part of an oil Well drilling and pumping mechanism with our counterbalancing ydevice attached thereto.

Referring` to the drawing, particularly to Figure 1, we have shown the usual drilling rig structure comprising the engine house I, belt house 2, band Wheel house 3 and derrick structure 4.

In this ligure, we have sho-wn a novel countern balancing unit 5 as being disposed on the outside of the house. v3 which encloses the band wheel 6. A sand reel 'I is also disposed on the outside of the house 3. f

As best shown in Figures 2 and 3, .a Icrank arm 8 is mounted upon and keyed to a lcrank Ashaft 9 which, in turn, operates in a bearing II] that may be supported on a jack-post or similar structure Il. I

The counterbalance unit y 5 is preferably mounted lon the hubl of the crank arm 8 ina position between the crank arm I3y and the jackpost or similar supporting structure Il by means of a semi-circular clamp I2 cooperatingA with a semi-circular recessed portion I3 in the counterbalance unit 5. Such counterbalance unit is provided with a plurality of tapered` sockets I4 Which are designed to cooperate with al tapered boss I5 mounted on a lug I6 that extendslaterally from the crank 8. It will be understoodthat the tapered boss I5 may be attached to or` form an integral part of the crank 8 and extend there-` from at any desired location. Such tapered boss and tapered sockets provide va means for adjusting the weight center of the counterbalance unit I to a multiplicity of positions with respect to the crank arm. A bolt I6 is provided for holding the balance unit in any desired number by meansA of the bolts I 8. A pitman of any preferred form may be attached to the crank arm 8-by means of the wrist pin I9 and 'a plurality of holes 20 are provided to permit adjustment oi thek wrist pin to diiferent positions along the length of the crank arm 8. p

Referring to the drawing, it will be apparent that the counterbalance unit 5 may be easily at-` tached to or detached from the crank arm 8.l

As shown in Figure 3, the tapered boss I5 is fitted in one of the tapered sockets Il of the counterbalance unit and a bolt I6 is passed throughthe counterbalance unit and the crank to hold the tapered boss within the tapered socket in which it is disposed. y y

To detach the counterbalance unit 5 from the crank 8,' it is only necessary toremove the bolt I6 and then move the counterbalance unit along the crank hub in a direction away from the crank arm 8 to such an extent that the tapered boss I5 will be disengaged from the tapered. socket. I4. In order that the counterbalance `unit may be moved away from the crank 8 more easily, the portion of the hub of the crank on which the lcounterbalance unit is suspended "may be machined so as to taper slightly in a direction away from the-crank. 1

j 1n connection with the provision of a counterbalance weight structurewhich is movablealong the hub of the crank arm either toward-or from the inner face of this crank arm, I have provided a pivoted latch 23 which is normally ineflective when rthe counterweight is connected to the crank arm. This latch may be swung downwardly to embrace the upper part I2 of the counterweight structure and effectively maintain the counterbalance in spaced relation to the crank f arml when desired so that the crank armv willbe free to move in a rotary path without interference from the counterbalance.

'In order to provide a means whereby the counterbalance unit may be removed from the crank hub and the crank relieved of the weight of the counterbalanceV unit and yet have'the counterbalance unit in a position whereby it may be quickly and easily remounted on the crank hub, we have provided a bracket 2l or other supportingI shelf immediately below the counterbalance unit. This bracket is :intended vto receive and support theicounterbalance unit when the nuts upon the bolts 2 I, which are made of extra. length for this purpose, are suiciently loosened to permit the counterbalance unit to be practically entirely disconnected from the crank It willv be understood that the counterbalancing-unit may be attached either directly to the crank shaft or to the hub of the crank 8.

l In either construction, `the bolts 2I are of such length that, after the bolt I6 has been removed to permit theremoval of the tapered boss I5 from the tapered socket Il in which it is disposed, the counterbalance attachment may be lowered to'rest upon the bracket 29 to -such an extent as lto entirely relieve the crank shaft 9 or the crank hub of any weight of the counterance unit which will permit any desired counterbalancing eiect to be obtained. 'I'his Idesired counterbalancing eifect may be obtained in several ways, the most simple of which would be by adjusting the counterbalance unit and the crank laterally with relation to each other until the tapered boss I on the crank arm is in cooperative relation to the desired tapered socket I4 in the counterbalance unit. Another means of obtaining the desired counterbalancing'eifect is to vary the number of the supplemental weight elements I'I on the counterbalance unit. Still another means of obtaining the desired counterbalancing effect is by adjustingthe pitman of the drilling and pumping mechanism to various positions along the crank arm 8 by changing the position of the wrist pin I9 on the crank arm.

Also, by referring to the drawing, it will be apparent that our counterbalance unit, when assembled, is located outside of the band wheel house 3 whereby it may be readily adjusted and inaccessible due to lack of space. As shown, the y siding of the band wheel house 3 is between the front jack post II and the sprocket wheel 22 which provides a meansV for driving the sand reel 1. Furthermore, it will be seen that our device is so constructed that the counterbalance unit may be quickly and easily shifted in an arcuate path with relation to the crank arm, to synchronize the` counterbalance effect with the load.

It will be seen that we have provided a counterbalance unit which may be drawn into rigid relation to the crank. This is accomplished by means of the tapered boss and the complementally tapered sockets. The boss` is large and, therefore, has a large shearing area which will permit the use of bolts for securing the crank and counterbalance `unit together and, at the same time, will ensure a rigidity of connection which cannot be economically obtained by the use of bolts alone. y

It will also be apparent that by providing a counterbalance unit which is so designed as to be attached to and operate with the 'crank of an oil well drilling and pumping -mechanism, we have a means for counterbalancing such mechanism that has decided advantagesover a band wheel or walking beam counterbalance. One of these advantages resides in the fact that the crank may be assembled with the crank shaft in visualize the'strain to which the various parts of the apparatus are put, it is well to appreciate that in order to obtain a proper counterbalancing effect in oil well drilling and pumping mechanism, it is usually necessary to provide a weight of approximately -four tons, the center of gravity of whichris ordinarily 'feet from the center of the crank shaft. In our device, we have connected theweight directly to the crank shaft or the -hub of the crank arm, which eliminates practically all of those stresses `on the band Wheel, keys, crank shaft and associated parts whicharise when the counterbalance weight is attached to the band wheel.v Furthermore, our device has the additional advantageof being removable to such an extent that the crank shaft may be relieved of all weight of the counterbalance and yet the counterbalance unit will be in such position that it may be quickly and easily remounted on the crank shaft or hub of the crank arm. l

Still another advantage of our invention resides in the fact that only a relatively short time is required to attach andr detach the counterweight `to or from the crank shaft or crank hub and, consequently, to or from a position of effectiveness. This is an important advantage because it is well known that, when a pump ceases tovoperate in a Well, water hasl a tendency to encroach on the well or,fpumping in adjacent wells, acts to pull the oil away fromthe well which is not being pumped. Therefore, to cease pumping a well for other than a very short period of time will result in `a considerablev amount of pumping being necessary before the well will be returned to the condition it was in prior to the time that the pumping ceased.

A further advantage resides in the fact that our design andl construction is such that the counterbalance weight is at a maximum distance from the center of the crank shaft. Obviously, the further the counterbalance weight is removed from the crank shaft the less weight is required. Therefore, our device will permit a relatively small counterbalance weight to be used to obtain a relatively large counterbalancing effect.

Having thus described our invention, what We claim is: l

1. In a well-pumping mechanism, a crank shaft, a supporting member for said crank shaft, a crank' arm keyed on the outer end of saidv crank shaft and disposed at a location spaced from said supporting member, said crank arm having a hub formed as an integral part thereof which embraces said crank shaft, a counterbalancefweight structure, means for suspending said counterbalance weight structure in juxtaposition to said crank arm and between said arm and said crank shaft supporting member, said means comprising a member adapted to embrace the hub of said crank arm, a plurality of -bolts having their upper ends passing through sockets in said hubembracing member, the lower ends of said bolts being connected to the body portion of said counterbalance weight structure, means for feeding said bolts into and `out of said sockets to raise said counterbalance weight structure to a position in cooperative relation to said crank arm or to lower it into an inoperative position relative to said crank arm, said counterbalance weight suspending means being adjustable axially of said hub member, a shelf structure on said supporting member, said shelf structure being so located on said supporting member and the said bolts being of such length that `when the counterbalance weight structure'is adjusted into inoperative position it will rest on said shelf structure, and means other than said counterbalance Weight suspending means for attaching sadlcounterb'alance weight directly to said crank arm when the weight and arm are` in cooperative relation, said last-named means comprising. a hole in said crank arm and a plurality vof circumferentially spaced holes in said counterbalance weight structure any one of which may be brought into coincidence with said hole in said crank arm and a member passing into the corresponding holes 'in said crank arm and said weight structure.

2. In a well-pumping mechanism, a crank shaft, a supporting member for said crank shaft, a crank arm mounted on said crank shaft and disposed at a location spaced from said supporting member, said crank arm having a hub thereon which embraces said crank shaft, a counterbalance weight structure means for suspending said counterbalance weight structure in juxtaposition to said crank arm and between said arm and said crank shaft supporting member, said means comprising a member adapted to embrace the hub of said crank arm, a plurality of rods having their upper endspassing through sockets in said hub-embracing member, the lower ends of said rodsbeing connected` to the body portion of said counterbalance weight structure, means for feeding saidrods vinto and out of said sockets to raisesaid counterbalance Weight structure to a position in cooperative relation to said crank arm, or to lower it into an inoperative position relative to said crank arm where the crank shaft will be relieved of the weight of said counterbalance weight, and means other than said counterbalance weight suspending means for attaching said counterbalance' weight directly' to said crank arm when thek weight and arm are in cooperative relation at any of a plurality of circumferential positions relative to said crank arm.

3. In a well-pumping mechanism, a crank shaft, a supporting member for said crank shaft, a crank arm mounted on said crank shaft, said crank arm having a hub which embraces said crank shaft, a counterbalance weight structure, means for suspending said counterbalance` weight structure in juxtaposition tor said crank arm, said means comprising a member adapted to embrace the hub of said crank arm, a plurality of rods having their upper ends passing through sockets in said hub-embracing member, the lower ends of said rods being connected to the body portion of said counterbalance weight structure, means for feeding said rods into and out of said sockets to raise said counterbalanceweight structure to a position in cooperative relation to said crank arm or to lower it into an yinoperative position relative to said crank arm Where the crank shaft will be relieved of the weight of said counterbalance weight, and means other than said counterbalance weight suspending means for attaching said counterbalance Weight directly to said crank arm when the weight and arm are in cooperative relation at any of a plurality of circumferential positions relative to said crank arm.

4. In a well-pumping mechanism, a crank shaft, a supporting member for said crank shaft a crank arm mounted on said crank shaft, said crank arm having a hub which embraces said crank shaft, a counterbalance weight structure, means for suspending said counterbalance weight structure in juxtaposition to said crank arm,

portion of said counterbalance Weight structure, e

means for feeding said rods into and out of said sockets to raisessaid counterbalance Weight structure to a position in cooperative relation'to said crank arm or to lower it into an inoperative position relative to said crank arm Where the crank shaft will `be relieved of the weight of said counterbalance weight, and means other than" said counterbalance Weight suspending means for attaching said kcounterbalance weight direc*- ly to said crank arm when the weight and arm are in cooperative relation.

5. In a well-pumping mechanism, a crank shaft, `a crank arm mounted on said crank shaft, said crank arm having a hub which embraces said crank shaft, a counterbalance weight structure means for suspending said counterbalance weight structure in juxtaposition Yto said'crank arm, said means comprising a member adapted to embrace the hub of said crank arm, a plurality of rods having their upper ends passing through sockets in said hub-embracing member, the lower ends of` said rods being connected to the body portion of said counterbalance weight structure, means for feeding said rods into and out of said sockets to raise said counterbalance weight structure to a position in cooperative relation to said crank arm or to lower it into an inoperative position relative to said crank arm where the crank shaft will be relieved of th weight of said counterbalance Weight.

6. In a well-pumping mechanism, a crank shaft, a crank arm mounted on said crank shaft, said crank arm having a hub which embraces said crank shaft,a counterbalance Weight structure, means for suspending said counterbalance weight structure in juxtaposition to said crank arm, said means comprising a member adapted to embrace the hub of said crank arm, a plurality of rods having their upper ends passing through sockets in said hub-embracing member, the lower ends of said rods being connected to the `body portion of said counterbalance weight structure, means for feeding said rods into and out of said socketsvto raise said counterbalance Weight structure to a position in cooperative relation to said crank arm or tolower it into an inoperative position relative to said crank arm, said counterbalance Weight suspending means being adjustable longitudinally of said crank shaft, and means other than said weight sus,- pending means for connecting said Weight directly to said crank arm when said crank arm and said weight are in cooperative relation.

7. In a well-pumping mechanism, a crank shaft, a crank arm mounted on said crank shaft, a counterbalance Weight structure, means for suspending said counterbalance weight structure in juxtaposition to said crank arm,rsaid means comprising a member supported lby said crank shaft, a plurality of rods having their upper ends passing through sockets in said member, the

vlower ends of said rods being Vconnected to vthe body portion of said counterbalance weight structure, means forwfeeding said rods into and out of said vsockets y to raise said counterbalance weight structure to a position in cooperative relation to said crank arm orto lower it into an inoperative position relative to said crank arm, and means other than said1 weight suspending means for connecting said weight directly so said crank arm when said crank arm and said weight are in cooperative relation, ysaidmeans comprising a member extending from said crank arm and which fits into any of a plurality of spaced sockets in said counterbalance weight structure,

i .8. In a well-pumping mechanism, a crank shaft, la crank arm mounted on said crank shaft, a counterbalance weight structure, means for suspending said counterbalance weight structure from said crank shaft and in juxtaposition to said crank arm,v said suspendingl meansbeing adjustable to raise said counterbalance weight structure to a position in cooperative relation to said crank arm or-to -loweritinto an inoperative position relative to said crank arm onto a support so that said crank shaft will be entirely relieved of the Weight of said weight structure, and means other than said weight .suspending means for attaching said weight structure directly to said crank arm when said crank arm and said weight are in cooperative relation, at any of a plurality of circumferential positions relative to'said crank arm. i

. 9.fIn a well-pumping mechanism, a crank shaft, a crank arm `mounted on said crank shaft, a Y counterbalance weight structure, means for suspending said counterbalance weight structure from said crank shaft, andin juxtaposition to said crank arm, said suspending means being adjustable to raise said counterbalance weight structure to a position `in cooperative relationto saidl crank arm or lto lower it into an `inoperative position relative to said crank larm onto a support so that vsaid crank shaft will be entirely relieved of the weight of said weight structure, and means other than lsaid Weight suspending means for attaching said weight structure directly to said `crank arm whenfsaid crank arm and said weight are in cooperative relation at any ofa plurality of circumferential positions relative to said crank arm.

, g10. In a Well-pumping mechanism, `a crank shaft, a crank arm mounted on said crank shaft, a counterbalance weight structure, means for suspending said counterbalance weight structure from said crank shaft and in juxtaposition-to saidcrank arm, said suspending meansrbeing adjustable to raise said counterbalance weight structure or to lower it relative to said crank arm, and means other than said weight suspending means for attaching said weight structure directly to said crank arm when said crank armand said Weight are in proper relation .to each other at any of a plurality of circumferential positions relative to said crank ann.

RICHARD R. BLoss. ROY C. PFEIL. 

